Volatility Expansion — How to use this Screener

Navigation

• Getting started with SFX Screener — Screener workflow, UI map, and Forex-specific guardrails.

• Oversold Rebound — Stretched pullbacks and early stabilization signals.

• Trend Continuation — Trend-following candidates with regime filters to avoid chop.

• Volatility Expansion — Squeezes and expansions for breakout-focused days.

• Helix Pattern Validation — Rank/validate pattern alerts by context, location, and momentum.

Overview

Volatility Expansion highlights compression and expansion conditions:

• a squeeze that can precede a move, or

• an active break outside the volatility envelope.

It’s a workflow for breakout candidates. The Screener flags the event; Magic Terminal confirms structure and follow-through before you execute.

Timeframe versions

• Volatility Expansion (1H) (Community): event detection and execution focus on 1H.

• Volatility Expansion (4H + 1H) (Premium): keeps 4H context visible while still triggering/timing on 1H.

TL;DR

• Use it when you want breakout candidates and you can follow-through with chart confirmation.

• Avoid chasing blow-off candles; pullback entries are often cleaner.

• Define “failure obvious” invalidation (range reclaim / loss of breakout level).

Execution setup tips for Magic Terminal

• Choose entry style first: market after confirmation, or limit on the first pullback to the breakout level.

• Size via risk percentage (expansions can widen stops quickly).

• Put SL where failure is obvious (back inside the range / loss of breakout level).

• Use a consistent exit plan (first objective + breakeven rule) so snapbacks don’t erase the move.

• Trailing stop works best only after the move is established; early trailing often whipsaws.

When to use / when to skip

Use this Screener when the market is active and you’re prepared for snapbacks.

Be extra selective when CHOP is very high (whipsaws) or when the move is already extreme (late entries). Expansions can reverse quickly if follow-through fails.

Concept

Breakouts work best when:

• volatility compresses first (squeeze), then expands with structure, and

• momentum supports follow-through, and

• the event is aligned with the broader trend more often than not.

Volatility Expansion helps you find the event quickly, then pushes you into a chart-based confirmation step.

What to expect

• You’ll get fewer “calm” setups and more fast moves. This Screener is inherently higher stress and higher variance.

• You’ll see many false starts when CHOP is high. Treat the regime checks as primary, not optional.

• The cleanest entries are often the first pullback after the move is confirmed, not the initial breakout candle.

Benefits / risks

Benefits: clear event-driven candidates; simple invalidation logic (“back inside the range”).

Risks: snapbacks are common; “breakouts” fail often in choppy regimes; late entries have poor risk/reward.

Playbook for the Community version: Volatility Expansion 1H

• Price Change % (24h): Good: elevated but not extreme — move exists | Avoid: extreme spikes — late entries | Meaning: today’s momentum gauge for expansion candidates.

• BB Score 1H: Good: Squeeze or Overbought/Oversold — compression or active expansion | Avoid: Neutral — less actionable | Meaning: volatility regime + stretch state.

• EMA 200 Trend 1H: Good: expansion aligned with trend pill — cleaner follow-through | Avoid: expansion hard against trend — higher failure rate | Meaning: direction context for the event.

• EMA (50) 1H: Good: pullbacks respect it after the move starts — cleaner continuation | Avoid: chasing far away from it — late | Meaning: common retest zone for pullbacks.

• MACD Hist 1H: Good: building in event direction — momentum supports follow-through | Avoid: shrinking while price expands — weaker breakout | Meaning: momentum confirmation for expansion.

• RSI (14) 1H: Good: supportive but not maxed — avoids chasing | Avoid: extreme RSI — late-entry risk | Meaning: heat/timing check during expansions.

• ADX 1H: Good: rising and above ~20 — follow-through odds improve | Avoid: very low ADX — range noise | Meaning: trend strength proxy for breakouts.

• CHOP 1H: Good: Trending/Neutral — fewer whipsaws | Avoid: very Choppy — snapback risk | Meaning: regime filter for expansion follow-through.

• ATR % 1H: Good: tradable volatility; room to move | Avoid: already extreme — pullback entries are usually safer | Meaning: volatility + sizing guardrail.

Playbook for the Premium version: Volatility Expansion 4H + 1H

• Price Change % (24h): Good: directional but not extreme — expansion is active | Avoid: blow-off spikes — late | Meaning: near-term momentum / heat check.

• Price Change % (7d): Good: supportive (same direction) — better follow-through | Avoid: flat/opposite — spike risk | Meaning: broader context for “where in the move.”

• EMA 200 Trend 4H: Good: aligned with the expansion direction — cleaner context | Avoid: strongly against — countertrend breakouts fail more | Meaning: swing context; filters late/against-trend events.

• EMA 200 Trend 1H: Good: aligned with 4H — timing bias matches context | Avoid: conflicting pills — mixed | Meaning: entry-timeframe direction check.

• BB Score 1H: Good: Squeeze / Overbought / Oversold — event detection | Avoid: Neutral — not an expansion setup | Meaning: compression/expansion state.

• MACD Hist 1H: Good: building in event direction — momentum supports follow-through | Avoid: fading — breakout risk | Meaning: timing confirmation.

• RSI (14) 1H: Good: supportive, not maxed — avoids chasing | Avoid: extreme RSI — late | Meaning: heat check for expansion entries.

• ATR % 1H: Good: manageable for sizing | Avoid: extreme — pullbacks are usually safer | Meaning: risk sizing and entry-style choice.

Preset configuration in the app

This preset already configures its recommended columns and filters. Use Screener info (ⓘ) as the source of truth for the exact configuration, and use this guide for the workflow and chart checklist.

Step-by-step example in Magic Terminal

This example uses the Community 1H version. If you selected Premium, confirm 4H context first.

1. Choose **Volatility Expansion**.

2. Shortlist rows with a clear BB Score “event” (squeeze or expansion state).

3. Open Screener info (ⓘ) and validate with the Playbook (especially regime + heat checks).

4. In **Magic Terminal**, pick your entry style before you execute:

   • Market only after structure + follow-through confirmation, or

   • Limit on the first pullback to the breakout level / EMA zone.

5. Define invalidation so failure is obvious:

   • return inside the prior range, or

   • loss of the breakout level (retest failure).

6. Execute with a defensive plan (expansions snap back):

   • consider earlier breakeven rules and partials once structure objectives are reached.

Reminder: This guide is educational and not financial advice. Use your own risk management.